Texas @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 2, 2012 ) Texas 1, Oakland 3

The last time the Oakland Athletics were in first place in the American League West, the Texas Rangers were still eight days from their season opener. More than six months later, the Athletics finally found their way back to the top in the West, forcing a winner-take-all game for the division title against the visiting Rangers on Wednesday afternoon. The Athletics, who trailed the Rangers by 13 games at one point, have all the momentum with a five-game winning streak.

Texas acquired veteran right-hander Ryan Dempster from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline to be a difference-maker, and he'll get his chance when he opposes rookie A.J. Griffin. The Rangers had been alone in first place since April 9 and led by 5 1/2 games on Sept. 6, but have lost six of eight to drop into a tie with the relentless Athletics, who have gone a major league-best 71-38 since June 30. Texas has collected 11 hits in dropping the first two games of the series.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, FSSW (Texas), CSCA (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Ryan Dempster (7-3, 4.64 ERA) vs. Athletics RH A.J. Griffin (7-1, 2.71)

Dempster has lost two of his last three outings after running off a five-start winning streak. He took the loss last time out against the Los Angeles Angels, giving up four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Dempster allowed a total of one home run during his winning streak, but he has coughed up at least two long balls in four of his other six starts since he was acquired by Texas.

Griffin rebounded from back-to-back shaky outings to beat Seattle in his last start, limiting the Mariners to one run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He turned in an impressive performance against Texas in his second career start on June 29, throwing six scoreless innings of two-hit ball. The 24-year-old rookie has been outstanding at home, logging a 3-0 record and 2.52 ERA in seven starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland can become just the fifth team in history to come back from a deficit of 13 games to win a pennant or division title.

2. The Rangers can still wind up with the top seed in the AL playoffs. They need to beat the Athletics along with a win by Baltimore and a loss by New York on Wednesday. The Orioles would then have to beat the Yankees in a one-game playoff for the AL East title.

3. Oakland 1B Brandon Moss has hit safely in 12 of 13 games and knocked home 10 runs in that span.